A father-of-two who was hoping to sell his house to be closer to his job in Leeds has been left feeling "like a boxer on the ropes" as a major road between Tatenhill and Branston is set to close again.

Rob Walker, of Branston Road, Tatenhill, has faced months of misery due to road closures in the village as work is carried out on the roads to make sure they are ready for the opening of a new school in September 2018.

Working in Leeds means that his commute to work is already an hour and 45 minutes but the closures have added another 10 to 15 minutes to his journey. The 52-year-old has been doing this drive three or four times a week for three years, with the plan to move to Leeds when his youngster daughter, Helena, finished her A-levels at John Taylor High School, in Barton under Needwood.

Rob Walker may now have to wait longer to put his house on the market due to three months of road closures in Tatenhill

Eighteen-year-old Helena is now set to head off to university and this was the time the family planned to put the house on the market.

After returning from holiday at the beginning of August, the family breathed a sigh of relief to find the road had reopened but now they face further disruption after receiving a letter saying the road is going to be closed again for another three months.

Staffordshire County Council said the major works will involve the removal of an existing road, construction of a new road and roundabout, and a new footway and cycleway.

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The extensive nature of the works mean that Branston Road will be closed to traffic between September 11 and November 14.

The banker, who has an older daughter Bethan who is studying at university, said: "My circumstances are very unique with me living in Tatenhill and working in Leeds, but quite a few people will commute to Derby or will be going north and they will face some problems. It does add 10 miles to my daily commute.

"I was an objector to the plans for the school and I still am as I think it is the wrong place to build it. But I have lost that argument. I was aware there would be a need for another road closure for them to sort out the sharp bend as they have not resolved that yet but this is going to be a nightmare for months to be honest.

"I feel like a boxer on the ropes and I am being punched but cannot seem to get away from the ropes. Because of individual circumstances with me working in Leeds and the long commute, we had planned to put the house on the market when my daughter had finished her A-levels so we couldn't really move until now.

"I spoke to an estate agent about putting it on the market and then out of the blue this letter came. Clearly if nothing else it will be more difficult to get people to visit the property as they will have to go a round about way to get here.

"When they do get here they are going to ask about why the road is closed and then we will have to tell them about the school.

Branston Road will be closed for another three months

"I don't know what we are going to do about it. I am going to talk to the estate agent again and see what they have to say. If it is not going to work and people won't come then we are just going to have to think again.

"Every time my wife wants to go shopping or to Morrisons she has to go on a five or six mile detour to get there. I know it is not the biggest thing in the world to have to go an extra few miles, but it is a pain.

"Over the last months we have put up with it with the great British spirit. It is a very, very big inconvenience and there are issues of extra time, extra travel and extra costs.

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"It is more a fact of circumstances as I was fully intending to put the house on the market now and it is not as attractive as it was. People will be not willing to look at it and if they are they are not going to be willing to buy it or offer us a lower price which we don't want."

The closure of Branston Road has led to longer commutes for people living in the village

Mr Walker lives around 300 yards from the site of the new school and normally it is just a short drive for him into Burton, along Branston Road. However, now he is having to take a five to six mile detour via Barton under Needwood or Anslow and Stretton.

Helen Fisher, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "These works are essential to ensure the entire infrastructure is in place to serve the new school, businesses and future residents. Not only are we constructing a new road and roundabout, we are also installing services, traffic signs, street lighting and marking out the roads.

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"We realise that any road closure and diversion can cause some disruption, which is why we are working with residents and giving people as much notice as possible.

"Instead of having intermittent closures over a longer period of time, we are putting all of the infrastructure in place to minimise any disruption and ensure everything is in place ready for young people to enjoy their brand new school in September 2018."